Another topsy-turvy game capped the night in the UAAP men’s football tournament as host team University of the Philippines (UP) and the visiting University of Santo Tomas (UST) settled to a goalless draw Thursday evening in UP Diliman.
It was the third fight-marred game in four play dates in men’s football as several players were booked with yellow card, with Thomasian defender Jhon Azares thrown out in the game with a red card in the 82nd minute after a violent tackle on Maroon midfielder Florenz Tacardon.
UST set the pace in the first half, earning a slew of corner kicks and running attacks on their final third but the defensive duo of goalkeeper Fredrick Tiambeng and fullback Marc Tobias shut the door for the Growling Tigers.
UP came to life in the second half, with better buildup plays and chances on goal but the game slowed down when hard tackles led to tempers flaring midway in the half.
UST forward Daniel Nartey had a strike of a leakout play in the 70th that eluded Tiambeng but Tobias came just in time to intercept to keep the game goalless.
Thomasian midfielder Kyler Escobar then had a strike from within the box off midfield buildup but the same was blocked by Tiambeng in the 78th minute.
The Maroons had the last chance substitute midfielder Cian Galsim had a running attack off the left flank only to be blocked by a double team in the last minute of the game.
“May mga nangyari nang very, very cruel incidents so I hope the referees do a better job in protecting the players,” UP head coach Anto Gonzales commented after the game.
“Physical is ok but playing the man and not the ball is a different scenario. Tapos na tayo sa ganoong panahon. Respect, diba, compassion. Ultimately, we’re supposed to help each other develop, not kill each other on the field. There has to be a change in mindset on how to approach competition. Ultimately, the welfare of the players must be the utmost priority from both competing teams and from the officials,” he elaborated.
Last Thursday, the match between league leaders Far Eastern University (FEU) and University of the East had a scuffle in the second half and on Sunday, FEU once again figured in a near melee against De La Salle University where Tamaraw Khent Baylon received a red card.
Last Saturday, the women’s match between UP and UST also had a mini scuffle that saw a rain of yellow cards being given on both squads.
For his part, UST head coach Marjo Allado expressed his disappointment with the ejection of Azares, saying that “mental endurance is what is important in the UAAP.”
“I hope [Azares] will learn from this situation because this is a very important game,” he concluded.
In the first match, FEU Diliman High School dynasty successfully defended the UAAP boys’ football crown for the eleventh time, 2-1, disposing De La Salle Zobel High School.
Ronmer Paciente scored the golden goal off a beautiful 1-2-3 play with Nickos Mamon and Arvin Alayon in the 119th minute in a final that went to extra time.
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